Ctein reviews 160S and 160C

Interesting and informative. I just wish Reala had been included, but I think I can figure it out fairly well.

Thanks Bill. I was just searching for information on NPS in 4x5. Good to read that it is still very low contrast. It's too bad 160S isn't available in sheet film...

Is the "Best rendition of primary colors" list best to worst, or worst to best?

but it's nearly a draw between 160C and [UC 100]."

If that's the case, I wouldn't expect 160C to be noticeably different from Reala in terms of grain; I've found Reala to be ever-so-slightly finer-grained than 100UC.

At any rate, it sounds like these are very good films and a considerable improvement over their predecessors.

Don't rule out these emulsions as far as sheet film availability.

I am also attaching a current FujiFilm dataguide. Not yet available! Be the envy of all of your friends!

Have fun!

Michael D. D'Avignon

Primary color rendition is best to worst (160NC is undersaturated). Odd that UC100 has best light skin tones and 3rd best dark skin tones but is not one of the top three for flesh-gray balance. I believe Ctein tested UC100 as rated. 'Twould be interesting to test it at EI 160 like the other films.

There are four pictures with the article: contrasty apple blossoms with 160S, telephoto shot of ocean surf with 160C, a fine looking 160S Macbeth chart, and an amazing comparison of yellow and gray grain between 160C and NPC.

Michael, thanks for posting that Fuji guide. Looks like 160S and 160C are available in quite a few different formats. It also seems to suggest that Velvia 50 hasn't been discontinued.

Of note is that True Definition 400 gets a grain rating of RMS 5 -- the same as Superia XTRA 800 -- which supports Bill Tuthill's observations on that subject.

That's especially helpful information if you happen to use a Kodak lab. In his previous tests in Photo Techniques, Ctein has methodically printed from each negative on the same Kodak paper. If he did so again for this review, it should be obvious that some of the subjective rankings could differ substantially had he printed on Fuji paper. The important question remains unanswered: How do the films compare when they are printed on their best-matched papers?

R.T. Dowling , sep 15, 2005; 11:08 a.m. "Michael, thanks for posting that Fuji guide. Looks like 160S and 160C are available in quite a few different formats. It also seems to suggest that Velvia 50 hasn't been discontinued."

Well R.T., I can't say that it (Velvia 50) hasn't been discontinued... But I also can't say that production has completely stopped either... That's about all I can say right now...

: )

Enjoy the DataGuide..!

From a post elsewhere on the net, it has been suggested Velvia 50 had stopped production in June.

Thanks for the info Bill, very helpful.

Michael D'Avignon,
Thanks for the guide. I was looking through it for Natura and Fortia but neither are in there, got any ideas? Fortia is very cool but the ISO 1600 Natura is very impressive from what I've tried out. TIA.

To Bill,

Thanks for the article reference. I had the opportunity to speak with Ctein a few months ago about this, but I didn't ask him for the deatiled run down like this. His short form answer was that the new Fuji formulations 160S/160C were a good continuity to the older ones NPS/NPC.

To David,

160S is available in 4x5 I have two boxes in my freezer right now. I wish they would put 160C out in 4x5 though.

Hey everyone. I happened to walk into a store today in Bethesda, MD, and ask for it, and five minutes into this, the Fuji rep walked in and gave me a free roll to try. I'll post when I use it.